khazi
English
Alternative forms
- carsey, carsy, karsey, karsy, karzey, karzy, karzi, kazi
Etymology
Variant of carsey, from euphemistic Cockney corruption of Italian casa (“house”),[1][2] possibly via Polari and Sabir [Term?].[3]
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɑːzi/
Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
khazi (plural khazis)
- (slang, chiefly UK) An outhouse or lavatory: a place used for urination and defecation.
- 1961, Eric Partridge, Dictionary of Slang, page 1029:
- Carsey,... a w.c.
- 1968, T.E.B. Clarke, Trail of Serpent, Ch. xiii, page 122:
- You made a real thorough search? Everywhere? Outhouses, karzey, the lot?
- 1961, Eric Partridge, Dictionary of Slang, page 1029:
- (slang, chiefly UK) A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation (also figuratively).
- Well, that plan's down the khazi.
- 1967, J. Burke, Till Death Us Do Part, Ch. v, page 84:
- Have you seen the carsy? Just a bucket with a seat on top.
Usage notes
Now most commonly used in Liverpool, away from its Cockney origin.[4]
Synonyms
- (outhouse): See Thesaurus:bathroom
- (fixture): See Thesaurus:toilet
Derived terms
- down the khazi
References
- Partridge, Eric. A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 8th ed., p. 185.
- Oxford English Dictionary. "karzy, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1976.
- Corré, Alan D. "Polari Words from Lingua Franca" in A Glossary of Lingua Franca, 5th ed. 2005.
- "Why Do We Say?" (1987) by Nigel Rees